LISTENING
STUDY: All responses indicate that some cutting of trees
is necessary to supply human needs. One response states
that logging should be done only on private lands while
others suggest that non-wood fibers be used first as
an alternative to tree fibers. Still others emphasize
the importance of managing forests to provide a sustainable
resource.

From
a social and economic perspective, our National Forests
are far more valuable standing, growing, dying, and
regenerating where they are than cut down and converted
into two by fours and paper products. National forests
provide many social and economic contributions to the
nation, simply by existing as natural ecosystems. -
National Forest Protection Alliance

Could
we? - Michael Snyder, Forester

In
many cases trees are an important and effective source
of fiber. - Victoria Mills, Project Manager, Corporate
Partnerships, Environmental Defense

Wood
is the most environmentally-friendly source of building
materials and fiber available. Compared with other materials
(steel, concrete, non-tree fibers), wood requires less
energy, creates less pollution, and is recyclable and
biodegradable. In a managed forest we can maintain almost
all biodiversity values, while those dependent on old
growth or wilderness can be maintained in special management
areas (mostly public lands). - Robert R. Bryan, Forest
Ecologist, Maine Audubon

We
should cut and harvest trees sustainably to help protect
the environment. Harvesting trees through sustainable
forestry practices increases the use of greenhouse gas
neutral materials, provides rural communities with valuable
income, and supports a tremendous volume of recyclable
consumer goods. In fact, if we were to stop cutting
trees to make paper in America there would be opportunities
for less developed countries to cut trees at an unsustainable
pace and, for the large part, in an unsustainable manner.
In addition, small non-industrial private landowners
in the US would lose revenue generated from growing
forests. Stopping the cutting of trees would actually
create an incentive for landowners to sell their forestlands
for development and permanently eliminate the forest.
- International Paper

Humans
need wood for a wide variety of purposes and will continue
to cut trees. However, we may not need to cut trees
for paper if we use non-tree fibres and recycled paper.
- Susan Hammond, Executive Director, Silva Forest
Foundation

We
should cut trees to supply needs that cannot be met
with post-consumer or other fibers. - Frank Locantore,
Co-op America

Trees
are a renewable resource and with sustainable forest
management can provide us with the fiber we need for
paper, building, fuel, and other uses. These sustainably
managed forests also provide us with additional benefits
such as enhanced wildlife habitat, increased forest
vigor, recreation opportunities and forest fire prevention.
- Stora Enso

There
are those who argue that we should cut fewer trees and
use less wood and that this would be good for the environment.
A closer look at how we use wood and other resources
reveals just the opposite - that we should be growing
more trees and using more wood, not less. In particular,
if we use less wood we will inevitably use more nonrenewable
materials and fuels to build and maintain our civilization.
. . .
Deforestation is a difficult
subject for the forest industry because it certainly
looks deforested when all the trees are cut down in
a given area. But it's only deforested if the area is
not reforested. . . . Deforestation means the permanent
removal of the forest, the most common cause of which
is clearing for agriculture and cities. . . .
Preventing the further
loss of the world's forests has little to do with forestry
and everything to do with managing our population, growing
more food on less land, and ending urban sprawl. . .
. A large parking lot is the ultimate in deforestation
and the automobile is arguably the most destructive
technology ever invented by the human species. . . .
- Transcript from Trees Are the Answer, video
hosted by Dr. Patrick Moore, Green Spirit, 2001